Hey All,
I have a couple dog bite questions for you- I hope you can help!

Backround info: Last night, my sister was bitten in the forearm by a large, 10 year old German Shepherd with no bite history, friendly reputation and polite until last night. He does have a history of seizures but otherwise healthy. She was in a small group of people at a gathering with the owners present and had been petting him on and off all night. He walked up to her and sat by her side, she stroked his back a couple times like before, then took her hand away. He lunged up and was going for her neck/face area but she was able to raise her arm and catch him that way. Everyone around her froze in panic, she stayed calm and still but the dog didn't let go until he was so worked up he had a seizure and dropped her arm.
Question: Could the oncoming seizure have caused this out of character behavior?

Luckily, my sister is alway cold and was wearing 3 long layers under a Carhartt work coat and the skin damage was not bad- one shallow puncture, some red tooth indents and a scrape. My concern is that the area is swollen and quite sore but not bruised (we bruise if someone pokes us in the arm wrong!) Any idea if this is a bad sign? We have very little experience with dog bites and stubborn little sister refuses to go into the Dr. (Dog owners provided insurance info and requested that she let them take her right after, but she wouldn't go) Dog is UTD on rabies.
I know it is hard to make an assumption online, but any help in answering would be greatly appreciated as I know she will not go in unless her arm falls off

Wow, how scary! So glad your sister is okay. I honestly wouldn't begin to speculate on if she has any damage. Just encourage her to be smart about it and get herself to a doctor if it gets worse/doesn't improve within a couple days.

I wouldn't be surprised if the bite was seizure related since they happen when things are not quite right in the brain.

I do hope the dog owners are discussing this with their vet. They also need to be aware that they should change their handling techniques - no more loose dog at gatherings and he really needs to be kept away from kids too.

Wow, this could have been so much worse! What a relief.

Big ditto on everything Mara said.

There's more than one seizure-related trigger for biting, including fear at the seizure's onset.



What do you mean by one shallow puncture? Do you mean the skin was actually broken by a dog tooth? Or do you mean there's a dent but no broken skin? (I'm asking because of the tetanus booster question.)

Connie, there is a scab but I wasn't there. It did not bleed though

Well, I'd pass along to her that a dirty puncture wound ("dirty" meaning something from the ground, something outside, a bite .... ) should be considered as a possible tetanus danger.

AsI recall, there's a 48-72-hour booster window if a booster is needed, so sounds like she is in good time.

JMO! Not a health professional.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-puncture-wounds/FA00014

QUOTE:
See your doctor if the puncture wound

Is deep
Is in your foot
Has been contaminated with soil or saliva
Is the result of an animal or human bite

If you haven't had a tetanus shot within five years, your doctor may recommend a booster within 48 hours of the injury.

I've seen a couple of serious, nasty infections from puncture bites.

 Quote: Bob Scott

I've seen a couple of serious, nasty infections from puncture bites.

For sure.



When in doubt, check it out.

Thanks guys! She is good on her Tetanus booster, so that is a releif. She is watching for signs of infection, but it looks good so far. Just swollen and a rainbow of weird bruise colors Our biggest huddle now will be getting through the panic that grips her every time a dog walks by. (Particularily pressing matter as she will be moving in with us next week!)She has always been a dog "liker" not a dog "lover" so this will be testing for all involved!